New Hampshire’s group homes for people with brain injuries and developmental disabilities are getting new legislative scrutiny: Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 1763 into law on June 19, 2026, creating a committee to study how these residences are sited, built and maintained statewide, and whether siting disputes push vulnerable residents from needed care.

The panel, which was formed after neighbors in towns like Bow objected to state-backed homes appearing without notice, must report findings by Nov. 1, 2026. Sponsor Rep. Mike Drago said “residents feel blindsided” when facilities open unannounced. Disability advocate Lisa Beaudoin countered that “it is perfectly safe to have people with developmental disabilities in one’s neighborhood.” More so, advocates state that it is needed, as New Hampshire’s estimated 2,000 residents with acquired brain disorders rely on such housing to stay near family and services.

New Hampshire isn’t first to grapple with this tension. California has guaranteed small group homes equal footing with single-family houses since 1978. Connecticut adopted similar zoning-parity protections around 1980, later adding density limits after litigation. New York took a study-first approach in 2025, forming a working group on group-home families – a path New Hampshire now follows, as well.